I have friends who LOVE this beer, and I have tried several times to drink it but just don’t see what all the fuss is about. I have yet to be able to finish a full glass. By the time I get near the bottom the taste is just horrible,

Pours an average size frothy head and has a very dark brown colour. Aromas of light roasted malts, earthy and herbal type hops. Flavours are all fairly mild composed of coffee, light roasted malts, mild spices. Slightly watery, but not too much. Some spices are apparent in the finish. No bitterness at all. Medium bodied, average retention. Has a pretty smooth mouthfeel. A Guinness beer made for warmer times. Goes down real well. Still prefer the stout but would drink this again.

I was surprised how well I enjoyed this. It was toasty and very dark but refreshing on an autumn day. There are certainly better examples to be had of the style, but for the price this is not bad. It is something a little bit different.

Chestnut brown color with a head of light tan bubbles that diminishes to a thin lid. Caramel scent, akin to kitchen bouquet. Really not much of a sniff. Flavors of ashes and a hint of dark malts. Light acidity in the linger. Really not much as far a flavor. A quenching dark lager? 7/11

A weird one this. It doesn’t taste like a lager, it tastes like a watered down Guinness. Malt, cocoa and light coffee on the palate, maybe a bit of a black tea notes as well. Much thinner consistency as well. Not sure who it was aimed, young drinkers, session drinkers who find Guinness too heavy? It’s an experiment which didn’t pay off for Guinness, but I would try it again.
Tried in Northern Ireland when it was first launched.

330 ml bottle from Liquor Depot, served in yet another thrift shop find, a Stella Artois chalice. (It replaces one that I unfortunately broke before it had a chance to hold more than just two or three beers. A shame, as it had no wear showing on the gold rim and logo.) Pours an opaque near-black shade with a cocoa-hued head that leaves fine lace webbing. Doughy, roasted grains and malts, earthy and herbal noble hops, plus grass, and hints of straw, cocoa, and coffee on the nose. Overall flavor is very whole-wheat bready - similar to a brown ale, but without ale yeast’s spiciness, it lacks a little in dimension, but it’s appealingly smooth-drinking all the same. Creamy and chewy as well. Definitely a well-done dark lager, with plenty of body and a very welcome, sessionable ABV of 4.5%.

Opaque black hue with a beige head that settles rapidly. Lager driven aroma with notes of malt and honey, but with the addition of roast. Extremely thin bodied. Malt, hay, honey and roast flavour. Lacks robustness as expected, but quite refreshing.

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